When goalball came into Paralympian Eliana Mason’s life, she discovered a sport that helped her embrace her blindness rather than be embarrassed by it. Multiple medals later, this PSU alumna has proven she has the talent and the grit to excel in international competition with the best players in the game.

PSU’s Chicano/Latino Studies program grew out of student demand in the 1990s, and is a testament to years of advocacy from students, faculty and staff. Today, it’s meeting the needs of the university’s fast-growing Latinx population thanks to new leadership, an enhanced curriculum and a Chicano/Latino Studies bachelor’s degree.

In the days leading up to her first day as Portland State University’s new president, Ann Cudd was summiting Colorado’s Mount Princeton. Her grit and determination is as much a hallmark of her journey to leadership as her commitment to higher education access for all. We invite you to get to know PSU's 11th president.

PSU alum connects art, queer community in Mis Tacones. Entering Mis Tacones feels like entering a celebration of color, love and community. Adorned with piñatas, tchotchkes, art featuring Walter Mercado — a Puerto Rican astrologer and cultural icon — and two intensely colorful murals depicting Mayan goddess.

Outlet, the print shop co-owned by Kate Bingaman-Burt, associate director of PSU’s School of Art+Design, and Leland Vaughan ‘19, contains multitudes. It is a print shop, yes, but also Bingaman-Burt and Vaughan’s studio, a space for workshops and pop-up events, a zine library and a hub where artists can build community.

On May 13, The Pacific Islanders Club turned up the heat inside the Viking Pavilion! Performers twirling fire-lit knives bookended a night of cultural dances, music, and food celebrating the vibrancy of the Pacific Islands.

Lifelong Sunni Muslims, Rashid Muse and Abdi Ibrahim navigate the month of Ramadan in the midst of the Outdoor Track & Field season — balancing fasting, training and schoolwork. This year they invited other PSU athletes to join them in a Somali and Arabic feast after sunset.

On the surface, Ice Queen looks like one of Portland’s many niche businesses bringing something special to the community. But for California native and PSU alum Rebecca Smith, Ice Queen is even more than a business — it’s a taste of home.